Fabric sample display



June 2, 41970 F, HOWARD 3,514,815

FABRIC SAMPLE DISPLAY Filed May '7, 1968- United States Patent O Mlce3,514,875 FABRIC SAMPLE DISPLAY Fred Howard, New York, N.Y., assignor toHoward Displays, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York FiledMay 7, 1968, Ser. No. 727,181

Int. Cl. G09f 5/ 04 U.S. Cl. 35-55 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore fabric sample display `deviceshave been usually provided for the display of a fabric or carpet sampleby a device which provides a backing member, a handle and a front apmember, all assembled by a multiplicity of rivets and screw fasteners.Themanufacturing cost of such display devices is greatly in excess ofthat for those of the present invention, and it is more troublesome toreplace samples than with the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The fabric or carpet display device of thepresent invention comprises a unitary integral member which is flexiblyhinged to provide a large backing member, a relatively narrow top oredge member and a narrow front flap member which may provide advertisingor informational data. On the underside of the narrow top member ispositioned an elongated, integral jaw member formed of resilientmaterial, such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene or nylon, the jawmember having a pressure member and another jaw member provided on itsinterior surface with upwardly directed teeth or ridges, so that when afabric sample, such as a carpet sample, is forced between the jaws it isrmly held against dislocation in normal use and yet may be easilyremoved by sliding it sideways relatively to the jaw members.

At the upper surface of the jaw member, it is formed with an elongatedhollow tubular section, open at the top to provide a downwardly enlargedcavity to bear against the under side of the top member.

A unifying holding member has spaced protuberances which are projectedthrough apertures in the top member to be forced into engagement withthe cavity in the jaw member whereby the parts are assembled in tightrelationship so they do not become accidentally separated.

The jaw member is preferably so spaced relative to the main backingmember that small samples of other sarnples of fabrics of differentcolors may be mounted on the backing member without causing a bulging ofthe display device.

Optionally, a member having multiple channels may be mounted on thebacking member to receive and retain small samples within the confinesof its channels.

Patented June 2, 1970 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is aperspective view of a typical, illustrative and peferred embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment in an open or unfoldedposition;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of a fabric holdingmember as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of a modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a sample holding device asshown in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now in detail to thepresent preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention as shownin FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings:

The fabric sample display comprises a backing member 10 which is onlyslightly larger in area than the carpet or other fabric sample 11 to bedisplayed thereon. If the fabric sample is 24 by 36 inches the backingmemlber may be 26 by 38 inches.

At its upper edge, member 10 is integrally connected to an intermediatenarrow upper edge member 12 and to a narrow front flap member 14. Themembers 10, 12 and 14 are all preferably connected to each other to forman integral structure with flexible hinge portions 16 and 18 where theedge member 12 is connected to the members 10 and 14.

Preferably, the members 10, 12 and 14 are each formed of a core member,such as a hard-board or rather rigid sheet with a plastic sheet on bothsides of the hard board, the edges of the plastic sheet beingheat-sealed, and the boards being so spaced at their adjacent edges sothat hinged joints 16, 18 are formed along both side edges of the narrowedge member 12.

The intermediate narrow edge member 12 is provided with two or moreapertures 13 through which a handle or unifying member may be insertedto engage the sarnple holding member, thereby completely assembling thedisplay unit.

Between the back member 10 and the front ap 14 and held firmly againstthe under side of the member 12 is a fabric sample holding -jaw member20 having downwardly open jaws, the jaws being adapted to engage andhold a fabric sample 11 by its edge.

The jaw member 20 preferably comprises an extended member formed of arelatively stiff, resilient plastic resin such as polyvinyl chloride,nylon or polypropylene. On its upper surface the member 20 is formedwith a narrow upper slot or opening 22 which is downwardly enlarged toconstitute a somewhat triangular cavity 24. On the rear side of themember 20, the jaw member is provided with a resilient tongue 26, whileon its front side it is provided with a depending strip 28 on the innerface of which are formed a series of short, upwardly extending teeth 30.As a sheet of fabric or a carpet sample 11 is positioned between thetongue 26 and the teeth 30, the edge of the sample 11 is engaged andheld against all but deliberate removal.

The jaw member 20 is provided with a longitudinally extending cavitybeneath the narrow upper opening 22, and while this cavity may be ofvarious shapes involving a downwardly enlarged cavity, it is preferablyformed as shown in section in FIG. 4. There the opening forming slot 22is adjacent V-shaped cavity 24 having transverse shoulders so that amember 32 may be forced into the cavtiy, but may be removed only withdiflculty.

The handle or unifying member 33 comprises a rigid member with legs 34spaced to provide a handgrip. At the lower end of each leg 34 is aprotrusion 36 to extend into and through apertures 13 and into the slot22 through which the arrow-headed protrusions 32 may engage and beseated in the cavity 24. Thereby the assembly is completed and heldagainst all but intentional disassembly.

The sample 11 may be removed edgewise with only slight manipulation ofthe jaw 26, but is firmly held against vertical displacement.

If desired, smaller samples 40 of other color carpets of related designmay be adhesively attached to the front face of back member 10, as shownin FIGS. l and 2.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a modied embodiment of the invention in whichthe backing member 10' is provided with a channeled member 42 formed asa sheet with integral T-shaped ribs 44. Member 42 may be formed as anextrusion molding of a plastic resin such as polyvinyl chloride orpolypropylene. The spaces between the ribs 44 are adapted to receivesmall carpet samples which are held by the narrow exterior ledges of theribs 44. Member `42 may be cemented or riveted to hold it to the backingmember 10.

The display member is assembled with a minimum of labor, allows thesamples to be easily replaced, and allows the large carpet sample 11 tobe thrown back in a horizontal position without any tendency for it toreturn and obscure the view of the small samples 40 which are used toshow other colors of the fabric.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may `be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What is claimed is:

1. A fabric sample display comprising a flat backing member attached toan intermediate edge member and a front flap, said two members and flapbeing hingedly connected together, an elongated resilient, integral jawmember to engage and releasably hold a fabric sample by engagement withan edge portion thereof, said jaw member having a downwardly enlargedconcavity along its upper end to 'bear against the said intermediateedge member, and a unifying holding member above the intermediate edgemember and having downwardly extending, enlarged protuberances to extendthrough apertures in said edge member and engage in and hold the jawmember fast to the holding member.

2. A display as claimed in claim 1 in which the backing and edge membersand flap are integral.

3. A display as clamed in claim 1, in which the jaw member has aloweropening and is formed from a resilient material with teeth on one of itsinner sides slanted away from the lower opening of the jaw member.

4. A display as claimed in claim 1, in Whch the at backing member isadapted to receive a plurality of small fabric samples and the jawmember is so positioned to space the lfabric sample away from thebacking member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,868,029 7/1932 Steinthal 281-192,120,819 6/l938 Steinthal 20G-82 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner H.S. SKOGQUIST, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 206-82; 281-19

